Wire-fence stretcher.



UNITED STATES Arnim* Fries,

ISAAC M. WARNER, OF UNION CITY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK C. BOISE, OFUNION CITY, MICHIGAN.

WIRE-FENCE. STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '714,0'71, datedNovember 18, 1902.

Application ilecl July 15, 1901. Serial No. 68,366. (No model.)

To all 1072,0772' t ntcty concern.-

Beit known that I, ISAAC M. WARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Union City, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Wire-Fence Stretcher, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improved wire-fence stretcher; and it consists in thepeculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully setforth and claimed.

One object of my invention is to effect improvements in the constructionof .the stretcher-bar.

A further object of my invention is to effect improvements in theconstruction of the le- Ver whereby the saine is adapted to bear againstthe stretcher-bar and to be detachably connected to the flexibleelements which connect the stretcher-bar to the post.

A further object of my invention is to coinbine with a post, thestretcher-bar, and the flexible connecting element between the post andthe stretcherbar a lever adapted to be detachably connected to one ofsaid flexible connecting elements and to bear on lthe stretcher-bar whenoperated to stretch the runner-Wires.

In the drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a Wire-fence stretcherconstructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same inposition for operation. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of thestretcher-bar at right angles to Fig. 1.

The stretcher-bar l, which is adapted to be attached to the runner-Wires a of a Wire fence, comprises the two sections or jaws 2 3,which are connected together by transversely-disposed bolts 4. Therunner-wires are passed between the sections 2 3, and by adjusting thenuts 5 on the bolts 4 said runner-Wires are clamped between the sectionsof the stretcher-bar and firmly secured thereto, as will be understood.In the opposing sides of sections 2 3, at suitable distances from theirupper and lower ends, respectively, are openings G, in which are securedsemicylindrical metallic thimbles 7, which are adapted for the passageof the flexible connecting elements 8, which are attached to the post 9through the said stretcher-bar, the said thimbles forming guides for thesaid exible connecting elements. The latter, as here shown andpreferably, are chains. The same may be attached at their outer ends tothe post 9, either by forming bights in the said chains and passing thesaine around the post, as herein indicated, or by any other suitablemeans, and I do not limit myself inv this particular.

In connectionwvith the stretcher-bar and chains or iiexible connectingelements S I employ a lever l0. The same comprises a bar Il and a strap12, which is preferably of iron or steel. The said strap is bent incircular form to provide a bearing-cam I3 at one end of the bar Il. Oneend of the said strap bears against the outer side of the said bar, asat I4, being formed as an arm which lies against said bar, and theopposite end of the said strap is bent to form an arm l5, which bears onthe side of the bar l1 opposite the arm I4, the outer end portion ofsaid arm l5 being doubled reversely thereon, as shown, and formed with ahook 16. Bolts 17 are employed, which pass through the said arms 14C,

Vengaged by the hook 16 of saidI lever, the latter being in a verticalposition, as shown in Fig. l, and the cam at theinner end thereofbearing against the inner side of the stretcher-bar. By turning the upper end of the lever in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. lthe chain will be partly wound on the cam 13 and the said lever and thesaid chain will coact to force the stretcher-bar toward the post 9, andthereby stretch the runner-Wires, as Will be understood. When thestretcher-bar has been thus moved to the desired extent, the stretchedchain is attached to the stretcher-bar, which may be readily done bypassing a pin I) through one of the links of the chain and causing saidpin to bear against the inner side of the IOS fore described repeated,thus enabling all thev runner-wires to be stretched to the requisitedegree. inasmuch as my lever is operated on and bears against the innerside of the stretcher-bar, the latter may be moved on the chain orliexible connecting element until it is nearly or quite in contact withthe post, and hence my improved stretcher is adapted for operation instretching the runner-Wires to an end post of a fence as eectually asbetween the intermediate posts.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination withrunner-wires, of a stretcher-bar attached thereto, a fixed support, as apost, a flexible connecting element between lthe same and saidstretcher-bar, and a lever having a cam bearing against saidstretcher-bar and to which said flexible connecting element is attached,said flexible connecting element being wound on said cam by theoperation ofl said lever, substantially as described.

2. The combination with runner-wires, of a stretcher-bar attachedthereto, a fixed support, as a post, a flexible connecting elementbetween the same and said stretcher-bar and passing through the latterand a lever bearing against said stretcher-bar and to which saidflexible connecting element is attached, said lever having a cam onwhich said flexible connecting element is Wound, when said lever isoperated, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a stretcher-bar having means for the attachment ofrunner-wires thereto and provided With guides, flexible connectingelements passed through said guides and a lever adapted to bear againstsaid stretcher-bar, and to be detachably secured to said flexibleconnecting elements,

said lever having a cam at one end on which said flexible connectingelements are Wound when said lever is operated, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination of a stretcher-bar comprising a pair of sections,means to clamp the opposing sides thereof on opposite sides ofrunner-wires, semitubular thimbles extending across and in the opposingsides of said sections, said thimbles forming guides, connectingelements attached to a fixed object, as a post, and extending throughthe guides, and means, coacting with said connecting elements and saidstretcher-bar, to draw the latter longitudinally of said connectingelements and thereby stretch the runner-Wires, substantially asdescribed.

5. A lever comprising a bar and a metallic strap, the latter being` bentin circular form, disposed on one end of the bar, to form a cam thereon,and having arms at its ends which bear against and are secured toopposite sides of said bar,in combination with runner-wires, astretcher-bar attached thereto, a fixed support, as a post, and aflexible connecting element, as a chain, attached to said fixed supportand said lever, and adapted to be wound on the cam of said lever, whenthe latter is operated, said cam bearing on said stretcherbar,substantially as described.

b'. A fence-stretcher having a stretchingbar provided with means forengaging a fence fabric, an operating device having a cam to bear on thebar, and a flexible connection for attachment to a relatively fixedobject and engaged by, and Wound on the cam of, said operating device.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC M. WARNER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. SHORT, CHAs. E. DAY.

